The Super Falcons with a hard fought laboured display, forced spirited hosts Ethiopia to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the 2024 Olympics qualifier, on Wednesday, at the Abebe Bikila Stadium, in Addis Ababa.
Nigeria lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with several changes made to the team.
The nine-time African champions were shambolic against a highly determined Lucy of Ethiopia.
Asisat Oshoala had the chance to put Nigeria ahead as early as the 5th minute but fluffed her lines.
Ethiopia stunned their more illustrious opponents few minutes later, when Birkie Amara connected home from a corner kick, as the African giants failed to clear the lines.
The Barcelona Femení forward got another chance to restore parity at the start of the second half but couldn’t hit the target yet again.
Nigeria had to wait till the 51st minute before they restored parity through captain Raheedat Ajibade, who let an unstoppable rocket fly from outside the penalty box that gave the Ethiopian goalkeeper no chance.
Former Liverpool and Young Lionesses winger Rinsola Babajide came off the bench in the 71st minute for her first competitive appearance for the Super Falcons after switching nationality from England to Nigeria.
Super Falcons substitute Ifeoma Onumonu could have snatched a last-minute winner but she was denied by the offside flag.
Highly-rated Barcelona forward, Asisat Oshoala, was a pale shadow of the player who was recently nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or.
Heavy-footed Oshoala had several chances to make hay including a chance in the 47th minute when she was face-to-face with the goalkeeper only for her to sky her effort over the goalpost.
The Super Falcons were a team without a coach or a game plan as Randy Waldrum, who guided them to the Round of 16 at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand stayed away, thanks to Justin Madugu who stood in for him.
Officially, Waldrum’s contract situation with the NFF is yet to be resolved.
The second leg of the 2024 Women Olympic Football Tournament qualification fixture against Ethiopia has been scheduled for the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, 31st October 2023.
The winner on aggregate to square up to the winner of the Cameroon/Uganda fixture for a place in the final round of the qualification series.
The 2024 Olympics games will hold 26th July – 11th August in Paris.
